Elevator for cash-carriers



(NoModeL) D. E. KEMPSTER.

ELEVATOR FOR CASH OARRIERS.

Patented Dec. 8, 1885.

N. PETERS, Fhclo-Lflhngnphnr, Washmglom 0.0.

UNITED STATES PATENT UEETEE.

DANIEL E. KEMVPSTER, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

ELEVATOR FOR CASH-CARRI ERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 332,085, dated December8, 1885.

Application filed November 2 1885. Smial No. 181,632. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL E. KEMPSTER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Elevators for Cashand Parcel Transmitting Apparatus for Store- Service; and I do declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accornpanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in cash and parcel transmittingapparatus for store-service, wherein a car or carrier is caused totravel on an overhead track back and forth between the cashiers desk andthe several stations occupied by the salesmen, and my improvementsespecially relate to the elevators which are used in connectiontherewith; and it consists, first, to provide means with the elevatorfor placing the carrier in position on a forwarding way or track;second, to provide means for starting and propelling said carrier alongthe track in the direction which it is to travel; third, to provide theelevator with a stationary receiving receptacle or basket locatedbeneath the return-track, and having a removable bottom capable of beinglocked and unlocked automatically, as required; fourth, to provide anautomatically vertical reciproeating transferring receptacle or basket,which operates beneath the stationary receiving basket aforesaid andtransfers the carriers from the latter to the salesmans counter; and,fifth, the general construction and combina tion of the several devicesgoing to make up the elevator as a whole, all of which I now fullydescribe, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure l is a front elevation. Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the lineA B in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line 0 D in Fig. 1. Fig.4 is an enlarged detailed front and side elevation of the carrierstarting or accelerating device; and Fig. 5 is a sectional side viewofone of the upper cord-pulleys, showing the spring which elevates thereciprocating basket.

Similar letters refer to similar parts in all i the views on thedrawings.

a is the forwardingtrack, and b is the return-track, suspended by shortarms a" each side ofa central standard, 0, on which is adjustablysecured the sleeve or collar 0, to which the short arms aforesaid areattached. Said standard is also provided with a flange, (0 for securingit to the ceiling in the usual manner. Secured to the standard 0 is aplate, d. having pivoted thereon grooved Wheels 0 f. Said plate d hasalso depending from it guiderods 9 h t'j, said rods being held at theirlower ends by a similar plate, k, which may rest, if so desired, uponthe counter. Said plate has thereon a slotted standard, Z, provided withan adj listing-screw, m, for adjusting vertically a box, a, which haspivoted to its sides the grooved wheelsp q. Said adjustment is for thepurpose of keeping taut the endless bands r s, which pass around thewheels 6 f p q. Attached to the endless band r by the ear 1" is areceptacle, 15, having ears 1 1, which loosely embrace the guide-rods gh, so as to slide thereon. Said receptacle consists of a box open at thetop and having but three sides, the side opposite the ears being open,except a flexible spring, a, attached to the bottom of the receptacle t,and bears against the side of the carrier 22, and thus holds it in position.

On the rods 9 h, contiguous to the forwarding-track a, is adjustablyattached arms having at their outer extremity slanting guides a a, whichare for the purpose of engaging the carrier 0 when it is elevated by theband 1", raising the receptacle t, and thus throw the carrier out fromunder the track and against the spring a, which in turn throws saidcarrier back again into position as soon as the latter is elevatedsufficiently for the carrier-Wheels o to clear the top of the track. Aroll might be pivoted on the carrier to roll over the guide a and sideof the track a, and thus lessen the friction.

The carrier 1; may be of any convenient size and form, and is preferablymade of metal. It has grooved carrying-wheels v, suspended from uprightstandards, and the body of the box forms a receptacle for cash or otherarticles. .On drawing the receptacle t down the carrier 2) remains onthe track, and just as the former clears the latter a spring, t,attached to one of the ears 1, engages with the lever to, pivoted on anarm, 00, on the collar j, and causes said lever 10 to swing up incontact with and push the carrier o along in the desired direction. Asthe receptacle t descends the spring t disengages, and the lever assumesits normal position through the action of the spring y on the arm as,the lever beinglimited in its movement through the action of the springaforesaid by the contact of the pins 2 z in the arm and lever. The rods9 h have adjustable collars g h, faced with rubber washers, to limit themovement of the receptacle t and prevent concussion.

Nearly all the construction thus far described relates to that part ofthe elevator which places the carrier 22 upon the track, and I will nowdescribe'that part of the elevator which receives and transfers thecarrier 22 to the salemans counter after said carrier is derailed ordropped from the track. The means employed and manner of dropping orderailing the carrier from the track form no part of this presentinvention, and will therefore form subject-matter for anotherapplication for a patent.

My elevator is applicable to any overhead track system wherein a carrieris raised and placed upon a rail or track, and the carrier is byany'suitable means derailed or dropped off from the track, to beconveyed down to the cashiers desk or salemans counter, as required.

On the rods t j is adjustably secured by its ears 6 t' the stationarybasket or receptacle 1), having a hinged or pivoted bottom, whichispreferably made in. two parts or leaves, 2/ If, that are preferablyconnected together by a rod, c,pivoted at its ends to short arms 0 0fastened to the leaves I) b", the arm 0 being set to extend above thecenter, and the arm 0 being set to extend below the center of theirrespective hinge-pivots. A spring, (1, is attached to the arm 0, andmade fast to the stationary side of the receptacle b, and thus holdsboth of the leaves of the basket-bottom closed. Attached to the hingepivot orleaf b is a short arm, cl, extending back toward the guide-rodj, on which is fast spring latch or lock (2, which engages with and thuseffectually and securely holds the arm 61 in the position shown in Fig.2, and thereby prevents the hinged bottom from opening, unless saidlatch d is disengaged by the contact of an upright projection, 6,attached to the frame of the transferring basket f. Said basket isprovided with ears s 5 which loose- 1y embrace the rods t j, so as toslide thereon, and also has an ear, 8, to which the endless band s isattached. The weight of the basket f is counterbalanced byaweight, s,fastened on the band 8 at a point opposite,or nearly so, to its basketf,- also, the band-wheel f is provided with a drum, f, inside of whichis a olock-spring,f", the ends of which are attached to the wheel andwheel-pivot respect ively, as shown in Fig. 5. The clock-spring is ofsufficient strength to just raise the basket f. up under the stationarybasket b, with force enough to unlock and hold out the spring-latch d bythe shoulder e on the upright projection e pressing up under theextending end 2' on the spring-latch (1 The rodst' j have rubber-facedcollars t" j, for the purpose before spoken of with relation to rods 9h,- also, the lower collar, j, is provided with a'pin, 9' to strike andoperate the gong j on the basket f, as shown in Fig. 2. I

Now, having fully described the construction and combination of themechanismconstituting this my improved elevator, I will now proceed todescribe the' working and mode of operating the same.

Assuming the-receptacle t to be in its normal position, it would be atrest on the rubber-faced collars at the bottom of its guide rods,brought to that position by the force of gravity alone; also, assumingthe basket f to be in its normal position,it would be elevated just highenough on its guide-rods to unlock the pivotal bottom of the stationarybasket b, the pivoted bottom remaining closed, however, through theaction of the spring d.

The operation is as follows: A carrier having been placed in itselevating-receptacle 15, its endless band 1' is operated by theattendant or salesman, and the carrier is raised until it strikesagainstthe angle or slanting sides of the elevator-guides a, and,continuing to rise, said guides press the carrier away from ICC underthe track a, the spring u yielding suffi- I Will then allow the spring ato press the carrier back into position, with its grooved wheels 1; overthe center of the track, as shown plainly in Fig. 2. The band 1 may nowbe released, when the receptacle will descend by its own weight, and indoing so the spring catch t engages the short arm or point to of thelever to, and causes it to swing on its pivot until its upper end comesagainst the carrier on the track and starts and propels-it forward. Assoon as the elevating-receptacle descends, the lever w assumes itsnormal position, clear of the track and path of the carriers. When thereceptacle is rising,the spring catch t yields and does not operate thelever w. Assuming the carrier to have reached its destination and thenecessary change made in the cash or article which it contained, it isstarted back over the retnrntrack b. On reaching its station it derailsor drops'oft' into the receiving-basket b, and by its own weightgradually overcomes" the spring d and opens the bottom and passesthrough into the transferring-basketf, which by gravity alone descendsto the attendant or salesman, and rests on the collars i j, giving IIOthe gong.

an alarm or notice of its arrival by sounding As soon as the basket fstarts to descendthe spring-catch securely locks-the bottom of thebasket I) in a closed position, so that should another carrier come tothat station while the basket f was down it would be held in thereceiving-basket. On removing the carrier from the basket f said basketrises automatically and unlocks the bottom of basket I), as beforedescribed. It is therefore seen that the action of the baskets b and fare wholly automatic in their operation. If, however, at any time thebasket f fails to unlock the receiving-basket b, the former may beraised by the band 8 until the ears .5 strike the rubber-faced collarsij', when the pivoted bottom of basket b will have been forced open andheld so by the offset end or point e on the upright projection 6' comingup in contact with the short tripping-arm. d on the leaf b after theshoulder 6 had first unhooked the latch d as before described.

The construction and arrangement of my device are susceptible of somemodification without departing from the essential. features ofmyinvention-as, for instance, the bandsr and s are not necessarilyendless; also, the weight 8 might be heavy enough to operate the basketwithout the spring f or said spring might be strong enough to dispensewith the weight aforesaid; also, the hinged bottom might be made as oneleaf only, or the bottom might be made whole and the basket caused totip up and discharge its contents into the transferring-basket.Furthermore, the elevating-receptacle t might be attached to the band 8in place of, and answer the purpose of, the counter-weight s, and thusdispense with the latter and the band 7' and grooved wheels ep. Iprefer, however, the form of construction herein shown, as it combinespracticability, convenience of operating, reliability ofaction,exceeding simplicity, and, besides, is nearly noiseless andautomatic in its operations.

It is obvious that the forwarding and return tracks may be horizontal,or they may be inclined in opposite directions, as usual. If desired,the receiving and transmitting basket may be padded or lined with somesoft or elastic material,to prevent abrasion of the carrier and avoidnoise.

Having now fully described and shown my invention, so that othersskilled in the art may be able to construct and operate the same, Idesire to claim- 1. The combination of the track a, the inclined guidesat, the elevating-receptacle t, having a spring, a, and a carrier, 12,having grooved wheels 1), sul s antially as described.

2. The elevating-receptacle t, adapted to permit the carrier to yield inadirection crosswise of the track, then be elevated, and then press saidcarrier back into position, so its wheels will be above and also on aline with the track, as set forth.

3. The forwarding'track a, the elevating-receptacle t, having the springto, the carrier 0 track, and means for operating the same, substantiallyas set forth.

5. The combination, in an elevating device, of the receptacle t, springat, ears 1", guiderods 9 h, collars g h, wheels ep, endless cord or band7', carrier o,and guides a, all arranged substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

6. The lever w, combined with the elevating-receptacle, and so arrangedas to give the carrier 12 an impetus on the track toward itsdestination, as set forth.

7. The vertically-moving receptacle t. having means for operating thelever 10 on the descent of the former, but will not so operate when itis ascending, as set forth.

8. The combination of the guide-rod j, the lever w, pivoted thereon, thevertically-reciprocating receptacle t, and means thereon,substantiallyas described, for engaging and operating said lever to, for the purposeset forth.

9. The combination of the track b with a receivingreceptacle or basket,I), beneath the same, and adapted to receive and automatically deliverthe carrier to an automaticallytransferring basket, f, verticallyreciprocating beneath said basket b, as and for the purpose set forth.

10. The stationary receiving-basket b, having a hinged or pivotedbottom, and adapted to be locked in a closed position, combined with thevertically-reciprocating basket f, adapted to unlock said hinged bottom,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

11. In combination, the return-track b, the stationary basket b, locatedbeneath the same and so arranged that it will automatically deliver itscontents into the basket f when the latter is elevated contiguousthereto, but will not so deliver its contents when the basket f is down,all substantially as specified and set forth.

12. In a cash-carrier elevator, the combination of a stationary basket,12, having a hinged bottom, and means, substantially as described, forclosing and locking said bottom, the lower basket, f, having means,substantially as described, for unlocking and opening the bottom ofbasket I), and mechan ism, substantially as described, for verticallyoperating the basket f, as set forth.

13. The basket I), having the hinged leaves I) b, connected so as tooperate together,

IIO

spring d, and latch 41', adapted to engage the arm at and lock theleaves in a closed position, combined with the basket f and meansthereon for unlocking said leaves, substan- 5 tially as set forth.

14. In a cash-carrier elevator, the guiderods 2; j, the basket b, fixedthereon, and the basket f, sliding vertically thereon, and hav ing'meansadapted to unlock the removable bottom 12', b of the basket I) andpermit the contents to gravitate through into the basket f, as specifiedand shown.

15. In a cash-carrier elevator, the combination of the rods z'j, havingcollars ij,

15 one of which is provided with a pin or projection, j thevertically-reciprocatiug basket f, having ears 5 s embracing said rods,and a gong, j, attached to said basket, substantially as described.

16'. In a cash-carrier elevator, the rods ij, the basket f,adapted toslide thereon, and the endless cord or band s,for operating the same,combined with the wheelsp q, and means for revolving them to elevate thebasket, sub

stantially as set forth.

17. In a cashcarrier elevator, the combination of a fixed basket, b,having a removable bottom, a vertically-sliding basket, f,

adapted to operate as'specified, the cord 8,

attached thereto, the wheels p q, the counterweight 8, and a verticalway or guide.

18. The combination, in a cash-carrier elevator, of the standard 0,plate d, wheels ef, pivoted thereon, vertical way or guides, ele-'vat-ing-receptacle t, fixed receiving-basket b, having a removablebottom, vertical recipro-' 'cating basket, means for operating themova-' DANIEL E. KEMPSTER.

Witnesses:

HENRY OHADBOURN, ALBAN ANDREN.

